Should Fargas be starting?

[donovan]

Last year I said this guy looked more afraid of contact than any back I'd ever seen. I don't know what happened to that guy. Not to mention his obvious speed around the end.

 

[raiderfreak7]

I'd like to see Fargas get more carries, and possibly starting. Can't argue with results.

 

[007]

fargas wouldnt be averaging 8+ as a starter.

He is what he is. A change of pace.

I like the mix right now... 70-30 Jordan/Fargas.

 

[Rupert]

I think we have to start Jordan, but I think Fargas needs to be worked in before halftime. We need to keep drives alive with him. We need to change pace on defenses with him. Etc. Etc. Etc.

 

[Crossbones]

I'm not ready to give up on Jordan yet. He looked a little better today but still very indecisive. I agree with 007 that Fargas probably wouldn't do as well as a starter. He has been kind of sneaking up on teams the last two weeks. The OL played better again today. The defense didn't look so good. Wah...this is frustrating.

 

[Rupert]

It was something that worried me about our defense last week. Encountering a balanced offense was going to make these guys look a bit too reckless. It's nice that we can stop a running game when it's all the opposition can do (you know, get 3 or 4 stops at critical times while giving up 150 yards). But when we have to worry about the run and the pass, we're still in trouble because of all the kids. Now if we had a geniune pass rush...

 

[1D4]

Yes I think so. He just runs harder, not to mention he is twice as fast. Jordan is bigger and stonger but he runs scared, plus he is as slow as molasses until he gets 15-20 yards up the field were he shows some burst on runs were no defenders are near of him, but that's going to be rare. He is one of the worst blocking RBs I have ever seen he makes no effort to pick up the blitz or chip the rusher. I have seen Fargas show some effort and block defenders. Jordan has basically had 1 good run all year. Fargas runs like he has been shot out a cannon the second he touches the rock. He is just too fast for the defense. He has been one of the few and the most pleasent surprizes all year. Fargas seem to be showing the potential he had at USC were he ran all over UCLA and Iowa I actually think he has more talent to be a starter. Fargas has been the best RB on this team so far, and going to Jordan has been a waste of a down, Jordan has been running tenative and soft, I think he is better suited to be a backup so I expect Jordan to continue to be the starter.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

I like the mix, but I agree that Fargas should be integrated much earlier. Both RB's are looking fairly effective for different reasons and I disagree that Fargas is (or was) afraid of contact.

In fact, him challenging would be tacklers too much has been a problem for him. Fargas is a tough dude, mentally and physically IMHO. He went through a ton of crap in college that most guys would have quit. He runs hard and he plays tough. The difference this year is that he allows his blocks to set-up better than in the past (i.e., patience) and his 4 yard run yesterday was a thing of beauty. Probably the play of the game for me.

 

[hawaiianboy]

It's amazing how fast a player can go from whipping boy to a ray of sunshine isn't it?...

Our most effective running play to date has been that Fargas dive right off the RG, especially with Boothe in there... Fargas has probably earned more touches....


I still think Jordan is not being utilized properly... We seem to keep starting him East-West then asking him to pick a hole and cut... We should be channeling Rudi Johnson and sending him almost strictly North-South... I don't know if that's a playcall thing or a Lamont Jordan thing, but we need to get the mindset back to him being a grinder and not a homerun type back...

That a straightline runner like Fargas is getting positive yards on about every touch may be an indication that Jordan stretching the play unnecessarily may be doing our run blocking a huge disservice.... Come to think of it, that could have been what was giving Herm Edwards the redass in that argument he had with the Jets RB coach LJ's last year there....

 

[Seraph24]

It's amazing how fast a player can go from whipping boy to a ray of sunshine isn't it?....

Yep. The flack I caught for being high on him this year was pretty raw. He looked bigger in training camp and had worked all offseason on improving his body to avoid injury. So far its looked good for him.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Yep. The flack I caught for being high on him this year was pretty raw. He looked bigger in training camp and had worked all offseason on improving his body to avoid injury. So far its looked good for him.

No one was worse than myself. I predicted 1200+ yards for Justin Fargas in 2003.

 

[Rupert]

You know, against Cleveland, Jordan looked sluggish until Fargas came in and started busting big runs off. THEN Jordan started playing with aggression. That's one reason I think we need to get Fargas in there earlier. It lights a fire under Jordan. And the competition might be good for both of them, and by default, the team.

 

[Limee]

The fact that we are starting to get production from both has to be a sign that the Oline is playing better doesn't it?

 

[Turo]

I'm getting sucked down into the negativity void. I really want to ask "what's the point, 3 wins or 4 wins if we play Fargas more?" Being the new Bungles of the NFL is intolerable.

 

[Rupert]

Yeah, but it was reported yesterday that we have the youngest team in the NFL too. So the two go hand in hand. Say what you want about reload or rebuild, when you've got the youngest team in the NFL, you're rebuilding. I'd say we were the new Bungles if we were the youngest team in the league very 4 years.

 

[Turo]

I'd say we're the Bungles if we're the worst team in the NFL over the last four years and showing no signs of changing anytime soon. That's pretty much the bottom line, isn't it?

 

[Crossbones]

I'd say we're the Bungles if we're the worst team in the NFL over the last four years and showing no signs of changing anytime soon. That's pretty much the bottom line, isn't it?

Well in one way yes.

In another way we got young fast and have some potenial stars on the team especially on defense. I know we blow right now but as for the future it can be fixed. The coaching really has me worried though.

I'd take Ablert in a heart beat if Tennessee wan't to get rid of him. I'd give 'em a conditional 7th!

 

[RaiderIVlife]

We have now lost 10 straight regular season games. I realize we have some fine young talent, particularly on defense, but I have to wonder if losing-begats-losing. We have to break the cycle and how nice would be it be KO denver in Pile High next week?

 

[Rupert]

I'd say we're the Bungles if we're the worst team in the NFL over the last four years and showing no signs of changing anytime soon. That's pretty much the bottom line, isn't it?

Well, not as I measure it. There's definitely a similarity, but when I think of the Bungles I think of penny pinching, perpetually high drafting, always losing their own FA's because the didn't want to pay them.

Personally, I think we're showing lots of signs of changing soon (as long as soon doesn't mean this season). Actually, we'll improve this season too, but we have a talent lack that can't be addressed mid-season. Sooo...

I think the OL is improving, finally, but then again we have to see how they do against the tougher competition in the future, but I think last game was a good sign. The DL might benefit from a little experimentation, but we're not going to become world-beaters as is. We can only hope for a little improvement, which would mean we can get healthy with one or two guys next year.

The thing is, after San Fran, we look closer. We're going to have to endure some growing pains with Walter at QB, and I'm willing to endure it. But if the OL starts getting it right, and they were closer against SF than at any time this season, we could start winning games. Hell, I was impressed that Walter had time to screw up a couple times. In my book that was an improvement (an odd one, but an improvement).

 

[Rupert]

In another way we got young fast and have some potenial stars on the team especially on defense. I know we blow right now but as for the future it can be fixed. The coaching really has me worried though.

You know, I'm just not that worried about the coaching. Art's style puts execution at the top of the food chain. I think when the team starts executing his way consistently, they'll start winning.

I'm currently concerned about startegy because I'm not getting much of a glimpse into what they can do. But part of what they're currently doing is working on executing. I'd be willing to bet that most of the film sessions are focusing on how they want things done. I expect it's 80% teaching, if not more.

I'm actually surprised at how encouraged I am today.

The madness is looking more like method now. I'm even beginning to think Whitted starting is a "thank you" for his being a grunt all those years. He probably won't be retained, or will lose his starting status, next season. But right now, he's helping us lose games for the #1 overall pick.